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Australian wholesaler plans to put 200 nano-satellites into orbit from 2018.
Would-be satellite wholesaler Sky and Space Global (SAS) on Monday announced a deal with Virgin Galactic to launch up to 200 nano-satellites.
Together the satellites will form a constellation that will increase the capacity of the Australia-based company’s planned voice and data infrastructure. SAS plans to begin putting its satellites in orbit from the second quarter of 2018.
SAS will use Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne, an air-launched rocket, still under development in the U.S., designed specifically for the nano-satellite market. SAS said that LauncherOne can carry several nano-satellites at once, reducing its cost per launch. Using an air-launched vehicle also gives the company more control over where and when its satellites are launched.
"We have created LauncherOne in order to enable innovators and entrepreneurs to launch constellations of small satellites at commercially attractive prices. We are pleased to be working with Sky and Space Global to help launch their nano-satellites into space and to help them change the world for good," said Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides, in a statement.
"This agreement is the first step in what we believe will be a long-term relationship and it provides Sky and Space Global a genuine and highly sought after opportunity," added SAS chief Meir Moalem.
"It is expected to not only deliver substantial cost savings, due to LauncherOne’s ability to carry multiple nano-satellites simultaneously, but will enable us to bolster our bandwidth capacity as we launch further nano-satellites into orbit," he said.
